Did you know?The Council of Europe is a separate organisation from the 28-member EU. No country has joined the EU without first joining the Council of Europe.

Did you know?The Council of Europe Anti-Doping Convention adopted in 1989 is the only international legal instrument in this area to date.

Did you know?Five countries have observer status with the Council of Europe: the Holy See, the United States, Canada, Japan and Mexico.

Did you know?English and French are the official languages of the Council of Europe. German, Italian and Russian are used as working languages.

Did you know?All residents in Council of Europe member states may bring cases before the European Court of Human Rights against states which have breached their commitments under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Did you know?The parliamentarians who make up the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe come from the national parliaments of the Council's 47 member states. They speak on behalf of the 820 million Europeans who elected them.

Did you know?The number of indigenous languages in Europe is put at some 225. Basque is believed to be the oldest European language spoken today.

Did you know?
The Convention on cybercrime of 2001 can be used to prosecute cybercriminals and tackle child pornography. An additional protocol criminalises racist and xenophobic acts committed through computer systems.

Did you know?Workers' and employers' organisations can appeal to the European Committee of Social Rights if rights enshrined in the European Social Charter are not respected by member countries which have accepted the complaints procedure.

Did you know?The Commissioner for Human Rights, acting as an independent institution, has had the task of promoting awareness of and respect for human rights in all Council of Europe member states.

Did you know?
The judgments handed down by the European Court of Human Rights are binding on the countries concerned and have led the 47 member states to amend their legislation and practice in many areas.

Did you know?The European flag with 12 gold stars in a circle on a blue background was chosen by the Council of Europe in 1955. The number of stars does not change, twelve symbolising perfection. In 1986, the same flag became the emblem of the European Community, which is now the European Union.

Did you know?The Committee of Ministers is the Council of Europe's decision-making body. It is made up of the Foreign Ministers of all member states or their permanent representatives in Strasbourg.

Did you know?The Council of Europe has produced over 200 treaties and conventions in many areas, including conventions on banning human cloning and the suppression of terrorism.